Everyone’s welcome at Tropical Arts, a not-for-profit community theatre group based in Cairns.
Tropical Arts provides opportunities for anyone to participate in theatre-making, whether a professional actor, experienced amateur, student, first-timers to the stage, visual artists, musicians, or keen community members who want to assist in all production aspects. Actors range in age from under 4 to 80 years old and come from all walks of life.
Spokesperson for Tropical Arts, Irene Johnstone said that the group has been running for 12 years, and every year they stage a performance of Shakespeare.
“We are an inclusive theatre group and provide an opportunity for anyone who would like to learn to be an actor or theatre maker. We use Shakespeare to help break down barriers in the community.”
By using creative communication strategies and the skills learned with theatre training, Tropical Arts provides a safe space for people to connect and create. This passion is then shaped into the “Shakespeare at the Tanks” production, presented annually in October at the Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns.
This year, Tropical Arts will present 2Gen#CNS based on Shakespeare’s comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. This is their 11th annual large cast community theatre production, with a cast of around 40.
Renamed, 2Gen#CNS is a new approach to the play, exploring the pathways towards, and consequences of, integrity and betrayal. 2Gen#CNS keeps the bones of the story tight, and diverse ensembles create the swirling emotions of two sets of mismatched lovers. The human capacity to fool ourselves reveals that these two “gen” from destination #CNS, could be any of us.
EPIC’s Community Grant will assist in the purchase of costumes for the production running from the 4th to the 12th of October 2019 at Tanks Arts Centre in Edge Hill.
Since the association started in 2008 there have been over 10,000 people attend performances which are designed to make the works of William Shakespeare relevant and real to contemporary audiences, particularly in tropical North Queensland.
EPIC is proud to support this inclusive theatre group through our Community Grants program.
